Late offensive surge boosts first-place UTSA past slumping Charlotte, 8-3

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By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

Just when the struggling Charlotte 49ers started to rally on a windy Saturday afternoon, the UTSA Roadrunners’ two offensive standouts stepped in and took charge of the situation.

Drew Detlefsen launched a solo home run into the wind in the seventh inning, and Caden Miller ripped a two-run double in a three-run eighth.

UTSA went on to claim an 8-3 victory, clinching its 16th straight series victory in the American Conference dating back to the 2024 season.

On Sunday, the Roadrunners will try for their first series sweep in conference this season when the teams meet at 11 a.m.

Charlotte, an NCAA tournament program in 2023, has lost 10 games in a row and would like to rectify that situation before the team leaves San Antonio.

Earlier in the day on Saturday, the UAB Blazers completed a 12-6 rout of the South Florida Bulls in Tampa. With the two outcomes, the Blazers and the Roadrunners improved to 10-4 in the conference.

Teams in the American play a 27-game schedule, so the race is deadlocked just beyond the halfway point.

It’s been an eventful week for the Roadrunners, the conference’s defending regular-season champions.

On Tuesday, they lost a heartbreaker, falling 10-9 in 12 innings at Waco against the power conference Baylor Bears.

The Roadrunners took a two-run lead into the bottom of the 12th and then gave up three runs to lose on a walk-off single by Bears freshman Dylan Perez.

By Friday, they shook it off and scored an 11-5 victory over the 49ers in the first of three games at Roadrunner Field.

On Saturday, the Roadrunners and 49ers faced adversity in the weather.

Namely, a cold and blustery wind that blew into the hitters’ faces, forcing players on both sides to adjust their approach.

In the early going, the Roadrunners played small ball and surged into a 4-0 lead after three innings.

In the three-run second, Diego Diaz notched an RBI bunt single. Jordan Ballin followed with a sacrifice bunt that brought in another run.

Aidan Eshelman’s RBI single made it 3-0. The Roadrunners tacked on another run in the third to stake starting pitcher Conor Myles to a commanding four-run lead.

Myles (6-1) went on to record the victory, his fourth over his past four starts.

In working 5 and 1/3 innings, the lefthander from Australia was charged with two runs, both of them unearned.

He allowed six hits and walked three, while striking out three. Sam Simmons earned his fourth save of the season, striking out five in 3 and 2/3.

UTSA’s relief ace had his struggles in giving up three hits, one run (unearned) and walking three.

After the 49ers trimmed UTSA’s lead to 4-3 with two runs in the sixth and one in the seventh, the Roadrunners’ offense came to life against the 49ers’ bullpen.

In the bottom of the seventh, Detlefsen hit his team-leading 13th home run of the season. The solo blast into the left-field screen made it 5-3.

In the eighth, Jordan Ballin notched an RBI single, expanding the Roadrunners’ lead to three runs. Miller highlighted the inning with a two-run double.

UTSA had a scare in the inning on a play when Diego Diaz was thrown out sliding feet first under the catcher, into home plate.

Diaz stayed down momentarily and got up limping, but he did not come out of the game.

Starting pitcher Ryan Combs (1-1) took the loss for the 49ers, who have lost their last eight conference games.

Records

Charlotte 18-20, 3-11
UTSA 27-12, 10-4

Coming up

Charlotte at UTSA, Sunday, 11 a.m.
UTSA at Texas A&M, Tuesday, 3 p.m.

Notable

UTSA outfielder Christian Hallmark had a three-hit day at the plate, his third of the season. In addition, Miller, Diaz and Eshelman had two hits apiece. Ballin and Miller led the team with two RBIs each.

UTSA rebounds from a walk-off loss in Waco to rout Charlotte, 11-5, at Roadrunner Field

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Connor Kelley. UTSA beat Charlotte 11-5 in American Conference baseball on Friday, April 27, 2026, at Roadrunner Field. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Six-foot-five Connor Kelley struck out six in four and a third scoreless innings of relief to earn the victory in the opener of a three-game series in the American. – Photo by Joe Alexander

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

In the two days leading into Friday night’s American Conference series opener against the Charlotte 49ers, the UTSA Roadrunners couldn’t rid themselves of a sour taste in their mouths.

It just wouldn’t go away. They thought they had a non-conference game won against the Baylor Bears Tuesday night and then gave up three runs in the bottom of the 12th to let it slip away.

“It was a tough loss,” UTSA outfielder Lane Haworth said. “But, I mean, our goal is still the same. It doesn’t change the fact that we want to be first in the American.”

UTSA took another step in that direction as it pounded out an 11-5 victory over Charlotte at Roadrunner Field to maintain a tie for first place in conference.

Lane Haworth celebrates his home run as he heads back to the dugout. UTSA beat Charlotte 11-5 in American Conference baseball on Friday, April 27, 2026, at Roadrunner Field. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Lane Haworth rounds the bases grinning after he hits a long, two-run homer in the eighth inning. Before the big swing, a sacrifice bunt was under consideration until he assured Coach Pat Hallmark he felt good about his chances against a left-handed pitcher. – Photo by Joe Alexander

Reeling a bit after watching the 49ers score five runs in the top of the second inning, the Roadrunners answered with four of their own in the bottom half to take a 6-5 lead.

From there, UTSA pitching settled down, with starter Gunnar Brown finding a groove after his one frightful inning to complete four and two thirds.

To top it off, Connor Kelley entered in the fifth to shut out the hot-hitting 49ers the rest of the way.

The 6-foot-5 righthander was throwing in 94 mph-range for most of the night but hit as high as 98 on the radar gun in pitching two-hit ball for four and a third innings.

He struck out six and earned the victory.

In the meantime, the Roadrunners scored a run each in the third and the fourth and added three in an eighth — highlighted by Haworth’s long two-run homer — to win their 26th game of the season.

Coach Pat Hallmark said he thought his team’s play on the mound and in the field was “terrific” for the most part in holding the 49ers off the scoreboard in eight of nine innings.

He mentioned an obstruction call on UTSA freshman shortstop Aidan Eshelman on a pickoff attempt at second base as an “unfortunate” development that aided in Charlotte’s one big outburst.

“Aidan is getting in there for the pick off and he didn’t quite all the way get in front of the base,” Hallmark said. “A little bit unfortunate, and we walked a guy to start the inning, but it was eight innings of good baseball besides that.”

In a game that started at 6 p.m., a strong wind blowing out of the south made it extremely tough on pitchers.

“I kind of thought both teams would get into double digits tonight, and we pitched well,” the coach said. “I’m proud of Gunnar and Kelley to hold that lineup down.”

With the victory, UTSA improved to 3-2 in the opening games of its five three-game series in the American this season.

Aidan Eshelman. UTSA beat Charlotte 11-5 in American Conference baseball on Friday, April 27, 2026, at Roadrunner Field. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Freshman shortstop Aidan Eshelman continues to field his position well. Said pitcher Connor Kelley, ‘I think he’s really good on defense.’ – Photo by Joe Alexander.

The team can now clinch its fifth straight series this season and its 16th in a row if it can win Game 2 against Charlotte on Saturday.

“No matter what, if we win or lose the day before, we’re always going to be confident that we’re … going to win the day of (the game),” Haworth said. “It’s just like Baylor, we lost on Tuesday, but we came in (today) with confidence …

“I think that’s a good mindset to have for the season.”

Record

Charlotte 18-19, 3-10
UTSA 26-12, 9-4

Coming up

Charlotte at UTSA, Saturday, 2 p.m.
Charlotte at UTSA, Sunday, 11 a.m.
UTSA at Texas A&M, Tuesday, 3 p.m.

Notable

The Roadrunners (26-12, 9-4) and the UAB Blazers (24-14, 9-4) remained in a tie for first place in the American after Friday’s games.

First, the Blazers beat the South Florida Bulls, 8-4 in Tampa. Next, the Roadrunners followed a little more than an hour later with an 11-5 victory at home over the 49ers.

Charlotte, with non-conference victories earlier this season over nationally-ranked Virginia and also South Carolina, and a conference series victory over South Florida, has now lost nine games in a row.

Kelley’s streak

The story of the night in San Antonio centered on Kelley, who continues to pitch well in relief after a shaky outing a month ago cost him his Friday night starter’s role.

Gunnar Brown. UTSA beat Charlotte 11-5 in American Conference baseball on Friday, April 27, 2026, at Roadrunner Field. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Gunnar Brown yielded five runs, only two of them earned, in 4 and 2/3 innings as UTSA’s starting pitcher Friday night against Charlotte. – Photo by Joe Alexander

After giving up four runs in one inning against UT Arlington on March 13, Kelley hasn’t been touched since, hurling 20 and 2/3 consecutive innings in eight appearances without allowing an earned run.

During that stretch, he has yielded three runs, but all have been unearned. Meanwhile, he’s given up 10 hits and has walked five, while striking out 22.

“I just try to keep it simple,” Kelley said. ” … Throw strikes and get ahead. Nothing too fancy. Keep it easy and stay relaxed.”

Haworth’s home run

UTSA coach Pat Hallmark called time out after Drew Detlefsen led off the eighth by reaching first base on an error.

With Charlotte lefthander AJ Camp pitching well, the coach had a notion to ask a left-sider hitter, Lane Haworth, to bunt.

“It’s really up to you,” Hallmark told Haworth. “You got to be honest with me, though. How do you feel?”

Responded Haworth, the man on deck, “Coach, I feel good.”

Haworth proceeded to hit a first-pitch homer, jacking it over the wall in right center.

“He’s rounding the bases laughing,” Hallmark said, “and Detlefsen’s laughing, because they were both in the meeting. Detlefsen ran by me and said, ‘I guess he feels good.’ ”

Haworth entered Friday night’s Charlotte game with only five hits in 32 at bats over his last eight games.

He went two for four with a double and a homer against the 49ers, scored three and drove in three.

“I feel a lot better,” Haworth said. “I was struggling there for a little bit. It’s really just baseball. Sometimes, you get in those funks and you got to find a way to get out of it.”

He said he’s been working with Hallmark and assistant Ryan Aguayo to get the feeling back.

“I think it’s been a very rough couple of weeks,” Haworth said. “But hopefully we’re on an ascending trend.”

Christian Hallmark. UTSA beat Charlotte 11-5 in American Conference baseball on Friday, April 27, 2026, at Roadrunner Field. - Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA center fielder Christian Hallmark positions himself to make a catch against the Charlotte 49ers. – Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA welcomes Charlotte tonight for the opener in a weekend series

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By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

First-place UTSA is scheduled to host the Charlotte 49ers today at 6 p.m. at Roadrunner Field in the opener of an American Conference baseball series.

The defending regular-season champion Roadrunners (25-12, 8-4) are tied for first in the conference with the UAB Blazers. The 49ers (18-18, 3-9) are in last place in the 10-team league.

Records

Charlotte 18-18, 3-9
UTSA 25-12, 8-4

Coming up

American Conference
Charlotte at UTSA, Friday, 6 p.m.
Charlotte at UTSA, Saturday, 2 p.m.
Charlotte at UTSA, Sunday, 11 a.m.

Non conference
UTSA at Texas A&M, Tuesday, 3 p.m.

Notable

The Roadrunners have won each of their four series in the American by two games to one margins, but at the same time, they are 2-2 in those weekend openers.

UTSA weekend openers in the American:

March 20 — Won 4-1 at Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton
March 27 — Lost 3-0 at home to East Carolina
April 2 — Lost 3-2 in 10 innings at Rice in Houston
April 10 — Won 11-3 at home against South Florida

UTSA’s streak of series victories in the American has reached 15, dating to May of 2024.

The Roadrunners have lost two straight games and are looking to turn that around to avoid a three-game skid, which would tie for their longest of the season. The 49ers have lost eight games in a row.

Despite their recent woes, both the Roadrunners (33) and the 49ers (92) rank in the top 100 in the ratings percentage index, which is used to seed the NCAA tournament.

UTSA has the best RPI in the conference. Here are the American standings with records in conference, followed by overall record and RPI:

UTSA 8-4, 25-12 — 33
UAB 8-4, 23-14 — 47
Rice 7-5, 24-14 — 54
Wichita State 7-5, 23-15 — 148
East Carolina 7-5, 22-15-1 — 40
South Florida 6-6, 26-10 — 50
Tulane 6-6, 20-18 — 136
FAU 4-8, 17-19 — 164
Memphis 4-8 12-13 — 149
Charlotte 3-9 18-18 — 92

Each team has five series remaining (15 games) on their conference schedule.

In a change of format, only the top eight teams qualify for the American’s postseason tournament. The tournament is scheduled for May 20-24 at Clearwater, Fla.

Baylor rallies to score a 10-9 victory over UTSA in 12 innings

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By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

The Baylor Bears produced a two-run homer by Tyce Armstrong and a game-winning RBI single by Dylan Perez in the bottom of the 12th inning Tuesday night, rallying past the UTSA Roadrunners, 10-9, at Baylor Ballpark.

Perez, a freshman from Boerne, is the son of former UTSA standout Mickey Perez. He finished the game three for six at the plate with three RBIs.

Armstrong also made his presence felt with three hits, including a pair of long, two-run home runs. He increased his team-leading total to 14 homers for the season.

The Roadrunners, who trailed by scores of 5-2 and 6-3 early in the game, never quit. They scored two runs in the fifth and two more in the eighth to tie the score, 7-7.

Neither team could score in the ninth, sending the game to extra frames. In the 12th, the Roadrunners broke through with a couple of runs against a faltering Bears bullpen.

First, Drew Detlefsen delivered with an RBI single. With the bases loaded, Jacob Silva walked to force in a second run, giving UTSA a 9-7 advantage.

In the bottom half, UTSA relief ace Sam Simmons opened the inning by striking out Baylor’s Pearson Riebock.

Brady Janusek followed with a single, and then Armstrong unloaded on a 3-2 breaking pitch from Simmons, sending it over the left field wall to tie the game.

Brytton Clements stepped to the plate and smacked a single to right field to reach base as the potential winning run, bringing UTSA coach Pat Hallmark out to make a pitching change.

Replacing Simmons was righthander Gunnar Brown, who famously defeated the Texas Longhorns in the NCAA playoffs last June.

From there, adversity struck for UTSA as Brown threw a wild pitch that went all the way to the back stop. It allowed Clements to advance from first to third base.

On a close play, Clements slid head first to beat the throw, twisting his body around the tag. Called safe by the umpire, the play went to video review, where it was upheld.

Caleb Bergman entered the game at that point as a pinch runner, and Perez came to the plate.

With Brown still on the mound, Perez worked the count to 3-1. On the next pitch, he lined a ball that dropped in front of UTSA centerfielder Christian Hallmark for the game winner.

With the victory in a game that lasted four hours and 44 minutes, the Bears from the Big 12 Conference avoided a season sweep at the hands of the Roadrunners, who play in the American.

UTSA beat Baylor 11-6 earlier this season in Houston at the Bruce Bolt College Classic.

Coming into Tuesday night, the Roadrunners, one of the better mid-major programs in the nation, had won three of the last four meetings against the power conference Bears.

Baylor is now 38-11 in the all-time series against UTSA.

Bears reliever Luke DeVasher, the 10th Baylor pitcher of the night, got the last out in the top of the 12th inning to earn the victory. He is 1-1.

Simmons, who worked three and a third innings in relief, took the loss and fell to 6-3. He was charged with three runs on three hits.

Detlefsen, UTSA’s batting leader, went three for six at the plate and produced two RBIs. Hallmark also had a pair of RBIs on two hits in six at bats.

Caden Miller went two for four with two doubles and scored three times.

The Roadrunners had their chances to win and sweep the Bears but couldn’t get it done. They drew 14 walks. They were also hit by a pitch.

But in large measure Baylor pitchers got the best of UTSA hitters in the crucial moments, holding the Roadrunners to five of 28 at the plate with runners on base.

The Roadrunners were five for 20 with runners in scoring position.

Records

UTSA 25-12
Baylor 21-15

Coming up

American Conference
Charlotte at UTSA, Friday, 6 p.m.
Charlotte at UTSA, Saturday, 2 p.m.
Charlotte at UTSA, Sunday, 1 p.m.

Notable

The Bears caught a huge break in the top of the fifth inning after Christian Hallmark hit a two-out, two-run bloop single to bring the Roadrunners to within 6-5.

UTSA’s next man up, Jacob Silva, came to the plate with teammate Andrew Stucky at second base and Hallmark at first.

Silva popped up on what looked like an easy play for the third out, but Baylor shortstop Travis Sanders dropped the ball.

At the time, Stucky was rounding third base and headed for home, while Hallmark was in the vicinity of Sanders, rounding second.

After the ball dropped, Hallmark beat a throw to third base. With the Roadrunners thinking they had tied the game, umpires conferred and elected to call Hallmark out for interference.

UTSA coach Pat Hallmark, Christian Hallmark’s father, argued briefly on the umpires’ interpretation. But the call was allowed to stand, negating what would have been a game-tying run.

UTSA’s Diaz must sit out against Baylor on Tuesday night

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By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

The UTSA Roadrunners will play the Baylor Bears in Waco on Tuesday night without infielder Diego Diaz, Coach Pat Hallmark announced Monday.

Pat Hallmark. East Carolina beat UTSA 3-0 in American Conference baseball on Friday, March 27, 2026, at Roadrunner Field. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Pat Hallmark’s UTSA Roadrunners will try to beat the Baylor Bears for a second time this season when they meet Tuesday night in Waco. – File photo by Joe Alexander

Diaz will serve an automatic one-game suspension after he was ejected from UTSA’s game against South Florida on Saturday afternoon at Roadrunner Field.

Umpires ejected Diaz at the end of the second inning during the Roadrunners’ American Conference series finale against the Bulls.

The play that caused tempers to flare in both dugouts began with Diaz on third as a baserunner, and with teammate Aidan Eshelman at bat.

With one out, Eshelman lofted a pop fly into shallow center field that was caught by Bulls second baseman Jack Lutz.

Hallmark, coaching at third base, signaled to Diaz to tag up and try to score.

As the ball came into home plate, Diaz tried to slide and crashed into South Florida catcher Lance Trippel, who put the tag on him for the third out of the inning.

After the tag, Diaz hit the ground, with Trippel standing over him. Pretty soon, UTSA’s Caden Miller entered the area and confronted Trippel.

In response, Hallmark ran down from his post in the third-base coaching box and moved Miller back from the fray.

Hallmark, speaking to the media on his weekly zoom conference with the media, took part of the blame for the dust up.

“D was a little high going into the plate,” Hallmark said. “They felt like he needed to be lower (going) into the slide. I thought he was trying to slide. Maybe he was trying to slide late.

“But I didn’t argue it much. Those guys, the umpires, are in a tough spot.

“There’s a lot of direction from the NCAA, and rightfully so, to keep the game clean and not have any altercation, physical fights, or anything like that.

“So I didn’t have a problem with it.”

Hallmark said he didn’t have a problem with Diaz, either.

“You know how we run the bases,” Hallmark said, referring to UTSA’s aggressive style. “I put the guys in some tough positions, and I put Diego in a tough position. Right?

“He’s out by 12 feet or something because I sent him. But, yeah, that’s the way I saw it.”

After calm was restored, umpires took several minutes to review the incident on replay.

They came back on the field and informed both coaches of their decision, that Diaz had been ejected.

In addition, South Florida had five players tossed, apparently for coming onto the field.

“I thought we handled it great,” Hallmark said. “Nobody on our team got an ejection after the fact. Nobody left the bench. Or, left their position.”

“Caden Miller was there because he was behind home plate, telling Diego where to slide, which was why he was in there.

“They lost a few people for leaving the bullpen, which is against the rules. So I was proud of our guys, frankly.

“I thought the umpires handled it well.”

Hallmark said he contacted South Florida coach Mitch Hannahs after the game.

“I have a lot of respect for him,” Hallmark said. “I think he’s a sensational coach. So I just sent him a message and said, ‘Hey, I’m sorry about Diaz, kind of a high slide. I think I screwed up by sending him.

“He replied, ‘Pat, it’s just a baseball play. I haven’t even thought about it.’ So, it’s all good.”

In the aftermath, Hallmark said he didn’t say anything directly to Miller, one of his hottest hitters.

“I just tried to get in there quick,” the coach said. “Just tried to get in there, so there wasn’t a dust-up, where we’d lose Miller.

“Any player ejection, they have to serve one more game (on suspension). So I didn’t want to lose Miller for that game or another one. But I didn’t have anything to say to Caden.”

As for his message to his players? He told them to be careful, explaining that the umpires are under scrutiny for keeping the games under control.

Also, Hallmark wanted to remind them that indiscretions against the rules could be costly, given the Roadrunners are in contention for a second-straight conference title.

“We don’t want to lose players,” he said. “… It’s one thing to lose a player for an inning or two late in the game.

“But it’s the next game, in my experience, is where you really miss people,” he said. “(It’s) the following game. Like, we’re going to miss Diego on Tuesday.

“I just wanted to make sure we didn’t lose people for multiple games.”

Hallmark and pitching coach Zach Butler were also ejected later in the game.

The head coach of the Roadrunners said he didn’t want to say too much about his own ouster.

“Those guys are good umpires,” he said. “They’re good people. They’re doing a heck of a job. Sometimes I have a little more to say than they want to hear.”

Coming up

Non conference
UTSA at Baylor, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.

American Conference
Charlotte at UTSA, Friday, 6 p.m.
Charlotte at UTSA, Saturday, 2 p.m.
Charlotte at UTSA, Sunday, 1 p.m.

Records

UTSA (25-11)
Baylor (20-15)

UTSA moves into a tie for first with UAB in the American

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By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

The UTSA Roadrunners emerged on Sunday in a tie for first place in the American Conference baseball race.

Despite a 7-1 loss to the South Florida Bulls in a series finale on Saturday in San Antonio, the Roadrunners (25-11, 8-4) will move into the new week tied for first with the UAB Blazers.

The Blazers (23-13, 8-4) dropped a 10-2 decision to the Wichita State Shockers on Sunday in Birmingham.

Nolan Ganter slugged two home runs and produced four RBIs as the Shockers took two out of three in the series.

Since UTSA won two of three from South Florida, the Roadrunners picked up a game on the Blazers in the standings.

UTSA will play the Baylor Bears Tuesday night in Waco in a non-conference game before returning home to host the Charlotte 49ers on the weekend in the American.

The Charlotte series will run Friday through Sunday at Roadrunner Field.

American Conference
Through four of nine weekends

UTSA 8-4, 25-11
UAB 8-4, 23-13
Rice 7-5, 23-14
Wichita State 7-5, 23-14
East Carolina 7-5, 22-14-1
South Florida 6-6, 25-10
Tulane 6-6, 19-18
FAU 4-8, 17-18
Memphis 4-8, 11-23
Charlotte 3-9, 18-17

UTSA wins the series but can’t complete a sweep of South Florida

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Conor Myles pitched into the seventh inning, leading the UTSA Roadrunners past the South Florida Bulls for the second time in two days. Later, the Bulls bounced back to win the second game of a doubleheader at Roadrunner Field. In all, nine individuals combined from both teams were ejected during the two games.- Photo by Joe Alexander

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

Kaden Smith pitched into the sixth inning and Ethan Sutton finished off a combined six-hitter Saturday afternoon as the South Florida Bulls downed UTSA 7-1 in an American Conference series finale at Roadrunner Field.

The series opened on Friday afternoon with UTSA downing South Florida, 11-3.

After weather issues forced officials to complete the three-game series on Saturday, the Roadrunners won the first game of the day, 7-3.

In winning two of three from South Florida, they clinched their fourth series victory this season and their 15th straight since 2024. But in the finale, the Bulls averted the sweep.

In the top of the fifth, they scored four two-out runs to take a 6-1 lead en route to their 25th win of the season.

South Florida coach Mitch Hannahs. UTSA beat South Florida 7-3 on Saturday in the first game of an American Conference baseball doubleheader at Roadrunner Field. - Photo by Joe Alexander

South Florida coach Mitch Hannahs directed his team to its 25th victory over the season with a 7-1 win over UTSA on Saturday afternoon. – Photo by Joe Alexander

Jackson Geiger supplied the big blow with a two-run homer to right off UTSA reliever Cody DeMont.

Smith (4-1) earned the victory after working 5 and 1/3 innings. He allowed one run on six hits and four walks while striking out four.

In relief, Sutton posted his seventh save by pitching 3 and 2/3 hitless and scoreless innings.

UTSA freshman Christopher Gutierrez (1-1) took the loss. He gave up four runs on four hits in 2 and 1/3 innings.

Roadrunners had three individuals ejected during the game.

The three included third baseman Diego Diaz at the end of the second inning, head coach Pat Hallmark in the sixth and pitching coach Zach Butler in the ninth.

Diaz was tossed after making the last out in the second inning.

Trying to score from third base on a pop up to shallow center field, Diaz was tagged out as he collided with South Florida catcher Lance Trippel.

Tempers flared momentarily before others arrived to calm the situation. After a lengthy review of replay video, five South Florida players were also ejected.

In the sixth, Hallmark was tossed after he came onto the field to make a pitching change.

UTSA fans cheered the coach as he walked down the third base line on his way back to the clubhouse.

Butler was ejected in the ninth after South Florida scored its last run of the game on a balk.

With Trippel at third base, he was awarded home when a balk was called on UTSA reliever James Hubbard.

In the wake of South Florida’s victory, the UAB Blazers held the lead in the American with an 8-3 record, followed by the Roadrunners at 8-4.

The Blazers are scheduled to complete their home series with the Wichita State Shockers on Sunday.

The Shockers tied the series at one win apiece after beating the Blazers 5-4 in 10 innings on Saturday.

Records

South Florida 25-10, 6-6
UTSA 25-11, 8-4

Coming up

UTSA at Baylor, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.

First game

The Roadrunners built an early seven-run lead and held off the Bulls 7-3 to clinch their 15th straight series victory in the American Conference.

Aidan Eshelman. UTSA beat South Florida 7-3 on Saturday in the first game of an American Conference baseball doubleheader at Roadrunner Field. - Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA freshman shortstop Aidan Eshelman went two for four at the plate with two RBIs in Saturday’s first game. – Photo by Joe Alexander

The teams were scheduled to play the second game of a doubleheader and the series finale later Saturday afternoon at Roadrunner Field.

Officials elected to schedule the third game Saturday instead of trying to play Sunday because of weather concerns in San Antonio.

Rain pelted the field in the first and the fourth innings and then later in the eighth and ninth.

The weather didn’t slow the Roadrunners, who won their fifth game in a row, including their second in two days against the Bulls, and their 25th overall on the season.

UTSA scored one run in the first inning, two in the second and four in the fourth against South Florida’s Michael Senay, one of the top pitchers in the American.

Senay (6-1) suffered his first loss of the season, giving up seven runs, including six earned, in 3 and 2/3 innings.

UTSA’s Caden Miller delivered the big hit against Senay with a two-run homer in the fourth. Senay entered the game with a 1.34 earned run average.

Conor Myles (5-1) picked up the win for the Roadrunners, as the lefthander from Australia pitched into the seventh without much trouble.

In all, he worked 6 and 2/3, allowing two runs, one of them earned. Miles also yielded only two hits with no walks and one hit batter for his third straight victory.

Sam Simmons relieved Miles in the seventh. He escaped jams in the seventh and eighth and gave up a run in the ninth before escaping further trouble.

UTSA extends streak

UTSA’s string of series victories in the American stretches back to the 2024 season.

Pat Hallmark. UTSA beat South Florida 7-3 on Saturday in the first game of an American Conference baseball doubleheader at Roadrunner Field. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Coach Pat Hallmark’s UTSA Roadrunners extended their streak of series victories in the American Conference to 15 this weekend in taking two of three games from South Florida. – Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA won its last two conference series in 2024, won all nine en route to the league title in 2025 and now has won its first four this season.

The Roadrunners have won two out of three games this season against American foes Florida Atlantic, East Carolina, Rice and South Florida.

The series against FAU and Rice were on the road.

Against both East Carolina and Rice, UTSA lost the opening game and then bounced back to win the next two. Against South Florida, UTSA lost the series finale for the first time this season.

Eshelman’s day

UTSA shortstop Aidan Eshelman had two hits, including a double, with two RBIs in the first game of the day.

On the defensive side, the game was an adventure for the freshman from Houston Episcopal High School.

Eshelman made one spectacular play and helped turn an inning-ending double play in the eighth, but he also committed two errors.

South Florida coach is tossed

South Florida coach Mitch Hannahs was ejected in the seventh inning of the first game, apparently in disagreement with the home plate umpire on what was called as a check-swing strike three.

Bulls pinch hitter Jackson Geiger was at the plate with his team trailing 7-2 and with base runners at second and third. Geiger was called out to end the inning on a breaking pitch.

As Hannahs came out of the dugout and walked toward home plate, he was ejected by home plate ump Blake Felix.

South Florida pitcher Michael Senay. UTSA beat South Florida 7-3 on Saturday in the first game of an American Conference baseball doubleheader at Roadrunner Field. - Photo by Joe Alexander

South Florida pitcher Michael Senay suffered his first loss of the season in the opener of Saturday’s doubleheader. – Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA wins 11-3 to open the digital scoreboard era at Roadrunner Field

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Caden Miller scores on Drew Detlefsen's three-run double in the bottom of the second inning. UTSA beat South Florida 11-3 in American Conference baseball on Friday, April 10, 2026, at Roadrunner Field. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Caden Miller scores on Drew Detlefsen’s three-run double in the bottom of the second inning. – Photo by Joe Alexander

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

Playing in the shadow of a new scoreboard above the left field wall, the UTSA Roadrunners obliged by lighting it up on its first day in use Friday afternoon in an 11-3 victory over the South Florida Bulls.

Caden Miller scores on Drew Detlefsen's three-run double in the bottom of the second inning. UTSA beat South Florida 11-3 in American Conference baseball on Friday, April 10, 2026, at Roadrunner Field. - Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA’s Caden Miller comes up smiling after scoring on a head-first slide. – Photo by Joe Alexander

Roommates and team offensive standouts Drew Detlefsen and Andrew Stucky did the honors in leading the charge.

Detlefsen crashed a three-run double to highlight a four-run second inning and Stucky added a monstrous home run — a three-run shot — in the fourth.

When Stucky’s blast cleared the wall just to the left of the batters’ eye in center field, it just kept on going, with the computerized data indicating that it traveled 431 feet.

As it landed, the Roadrunners had secured a 7-2 lead and firm control of the first game in a three-game series with the Bulls.

Stucky acknowledged afterward that UTSA players sensed the fans’ anticipation of the board’s installation.

“I know we definitely saw it on social media,” he said. “Once it was finally up, and we showed up at the field – I think it was Wednesday – we kind of turned into little kids.”

Was there a group selfie?

“I don’t think we did (it) yet,” he said, smiling. “But we probably should. That would be funny.”

Even more fun was the fact that the Roadrunners reached double figures in runs for the 17th time in 34 games this season.

In trying to explain the team’s productivity on offense, Stucky said he thinks it’s because of players’ versatility.

“I think it’s just (because) we can score in different ways,” he said. “Today, early on, we were drawing a lot of walks. Kind of being patient, which turned into runs.

“Some of the innings we had the homers or the doubles, and all that, that’s mainly it. We can score in different ways. Which is helpful.”

With one out in the fourth, South Florida starter Edwin Alicea hit Detlefsen with a pitch. UTSA’s Garrett Gruell followed by drawing a walk.

At that point, South Florida coach Mitch Hannahs visited the mound. Ultimately, Alicea would be replaced with righthander Jonah Sarabia to pitch to the right-side swinging Stucky.

Drew Detlefsen. UTSA beat South Florida 11-3 in American Conference baseball on Friday, April 10, 2026, at Roadrunner Field. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Drew Detlefsen lashed a three-run double in the second inning to cap a four-run uprising. – Photo by Joe Alexander

“I didn’t really know much about him,” Stucky said. “So, I was just really trying to get a good pitch to hit. He kind of fell behind in the count (at 2-1). So, at that point, I was just looking for a fastball.

“He gave it to me, and I was making sure I didn’t miss it.”

Records

South Florida 24-9, 5-5
UTSA 24-10, 7-3

Coming up

South Florida at UTSA, Saturday, doubleheader with the first game starting at noon. Two nine-inning games are scheduled separated by a 45-minute break.

Notable

Gunnar Brown started and pitched four innings and Connor Kelley, who got the win, finished by hurling the last five.

Kelley (2-1) looked particularly sharp in shutting out the Bulls on two hits. He struck out two and didn’t walk a batter. Edwin Alicea (5-3) took the loss. Alicea lasted only three and a third innings.

He walked four and hit five batters with pitches. In all, Bulls pitching totaled seven walks, six hit by pitches and one wild pitch.

Drew Detlefsen had one hit, a three-run double, in four at bats. His batting average is .400 after the 34th game of the season. Stucky went one for two, including his 10th homer. Both finished with three RBI.

New video board expected to debut today as UTSA hosts South Florida

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By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

UTSA is expected to play baseball today under a new video board at Roadrunner Field.

First pitch in the opener of a three-game series between the Roadrunners and the South Florida Bulls will be at 2 p.m.

The video board, a 24-by-42-foot display, replaces the old scoreboard and is expected to enhance the fan experience.

Not only will it function as a full digital scoreboard, it also will have capability to show live video, sponsor recognition and fan engagement.

Meanwhile, the Roadrunners and the Bulls will provide the on-field entertainment in a matchup of programs sitting in the upper tier of the American Conference standings.

Records

South Florida 24-8, 5-4
UTSA 23-10, 6-3

Coming up

South Florida at UTSA, today, 2 p.m.
South Florida at UTSA, Saturday, 2 p.m.
South Florida at UTSA, 1 p.m.

Notable

The UAB Blazers lead the American with a record of 22-11 and 7-2. As for the Roadrunners, they’re tied with East Carolina, a game behind in the standings at 6-3.

UTSA has played good defense recently, playing error-free baseball for five straight games, including two wins to close out a road series at Rice last weekend and a 6-2 victory Tuesday at Tarleton State.

“I think defense is really the key,” UTSA pitcher Conor Myles said. “We’re always going to hit. We’re always going to put up good at bats.

“But when our defense is good and when our pitchers are throwing pitches over the plate, we’re a pretty tough team to beat.”

Pitching rotations

Righthander Gunnar Brown is expected to start for the Roadrunners today against lefty Edwin Alicea.

On Saturday, it’ll be Myles against South Florida freshman phenomenon Michael Senay.

Starters for Sunday’s finale haven’t been announced.

First-inning power surge lifts UTSA over Tarleton State

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By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

Drew Detlefsen and Andrew Stucky slammed two-run homers in a four-run first inning, powering the UTSA Roadrunners to a 6-2 victory Tuesday in Stephenville against the Tarleton State Texans.

Six UTSA pitchers limited the Texans to six hits as the Roadrunners (23-10) snapped out of a 2-4 funk this season in mid-week road games.

The Texans (21-11) had scored victories over Baylor twice and against Texas and entered the game at No. 68 in the nation on the ratings percentage index.

But the Roadrunners, ranked 40th, controlled the action from the beginning.

With Tarleton lefthander Ashton Bassett on the mound, Caden Miller led off the first, slamming a double off the right field wall.

Detlefsen followed with his team-leading 12th home run of the season, yanking a ball and sending it on a line over the left field wall.

UTSA didn’t stop there, as Garrett Gruell punched a single to right, bringing Stucky to the plate.

The UTSA catcher promptly out-did Detlefsen, hitting it on a high arc over the wall and over a screen.

In the second inning, facing righthander Matthew McCullough, Miller and Detlefsen struck again.

With one out, Miller lined a ball over the center fielder’s head and off the wall. As the ball caromed off the fence, he rounded second and ultimately slid into third with a triple.

Detlefsen followed with a deep fly ball to right, a sacrifice fly, that brought Miller home for a 5-0 lead.

UTSA kept applying pressure in the third inning against Jack Lovin, who put the first two batters aboard with a hit by pitch and a walk.

Lane Haworth continued to put the heat on Lovin with a single to right that loaded the bases.

On a Cade Sadler ground ball to the infield, the Texans got an out on a force play at second base, but Sadler beat the relay to first that brought in another run.

James Hubbard, Mike DeBattista, Ryan Self, Christopher Gutierrez, Connor Kelley and Sam Simmons pitched for the Roadrunners, with Hubbard (1-1) earning his first victory.

He worked the first two innings scoreless, allowing only one hit, walking none and striking out one.

The six UTSA pitchers struck out three and walked one. Continuing a trend, the Roadrunners’ defense played error free for the fourth straight game.

Bassett (1-2) took the loss after giving up four runs on five hits in the first inning. Last Tuesday, he was the winning pitcher in Tarleton’s 5-1 victory at Baylor.

Records

UTSA 23-10
Tarleton State 21-11

Coming up

South Florida at UTSA, Friday, 6 p.m.
South Florida at UTSA, Saturday, 2 p.m.
South Florida at UTSA, Sunday, 1 p.m.

Notable

UTSA’s mid-week road frustrations hit a low point last Tuesday afternoon at Incarnate Word. The Roadrunners blew a four-run lead and dropped a 13-11 decision on a three-run walk off homer in the ninth.

The Roadrunners have also lost on the road in the mid week to Texas State, Texas Tech and Houston Christian.

Detlefsen leads the Roadrunners in home runs with 12. With three runs driven in, he also boosted his team-leading RBI total to 42. Stucky has hit nine homers on the season.

Miller is on a tear over the last four games, stroking 10 hits in 18 at bats. The sophomore from Madisonville has ripped three doubles and a triple over his last three games.